From November 19 the International Rugby Board will be known as World Rugby as it rebrands ahead of the 2015 Rugby World Cup.

The IRB has been around since 1886 but as the game becomes ever modernised, the organisation in charge of the global game will unveil a new logo at the IRB World Rugby Conference in November. IRB CEO Brett Gosper explained the decision, telling The Times: "The name IRB has been a bit of a handicap in our development process.

"The change is almost so obvious, it's extraordinary it has not happened before. The name IRB stands for a body of people. World Rugby is a movement; the new name does what it says on the tin.

"The name IRB doesn't automatically give you the understanding of what it is. We feel that 'World Rugby' allows a greater understanding. We have a remit to grow the game, so we feel we are legitimate in calling ourselves 'World Rugby'."

IRB chairman Bernard Lapasset added: "Rugby continues to thrive, reach out and engage new audiences and participants in record numbers and the IRB has been at the heart of that growth.

"We are committed to furthering that growth beyond our traditional family and fan base with a public that expects to be entertained, informed and interacted with. This move is more than just a name change, it is a mission statement."